Andy Dow

Andy Dow served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1999 to 2013. Dow graduated from Lawrence High School. Dow earned an associate degree from Manchester Technical Community College in 1997 and a bachelor's degree from New England College in 2021. Dow's career experience includes working as a historian.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I Andrew "Andy" Dow Sr. spent my life answering the call to serve. I joined the Marines at just 17, serving as an infantryman before becoming a federal technician working on tanks and fighting vehicles at the Concord Armory.

After graduating from OCS I attended field officer training a commanded a field artillery detachment in Woodsville NH. When Hurricane Katrina struck, I served as the military liaison officer in the effort to rebuild New Orleans — working alongside FEMA, police, federal, state, local government leadership, and the Red Cross to distribute food and provide security. I later served in Iraq during the OIF surge, helping establish new procedures for detainee facilities in Baghdad and recorded the war as a historian for the military. Mortar attacks injured my neck and ended my military career.

Retirement never slowed me down. I became a master in stained glass, earning recognition from the League of NH Craftsmen, and since 2018 have established and donated a political archive at New England College — preserving footage dating back to 2012 and recording events for students education. For the last two years I have served on Farmington's planning board, tackling affordable housing head-on.

On this planning board I spearheaded — with town leadership and bipartisan legislative support — a proposal that reached the President's desk and secured $1.2 billion in federal funding for a full-service VA hospital right here in New Hampshire.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I am here to serve and represent every member of my town as a member of the towns planning board and NH State Representative. I know what the town needs and have listened to concerns from towns people, developers, other boards that serve our town, and am capable of working with both sides of the aisle to get things done for us. I want my constituents to feel free to contact me on any issue that they have as I’m a great listener and my experience in the military and civilian leadership will get results.Infrastructure: Our town needs someone in the statehouse who knows what we need to sustain development without raising taxes. As a homeowner father of 5, grandfather of 23, and great grandfather of three beautiful girls i know what it is to worry about the rising costs of food, utilities, and property taxes, which carry on to rent increases.

We require good roads, water, septic, energy, and development that doesn’t encroach on property owners, our conservation land, and well water. Data centers are a big concern. I will fight for legislation to harness technology to build safe cheap nuclear power, independent water systems, and closed waste systems when these facilities are planned in towns who want them.Education: Schools are the greatest source of intellectual growth for our children. They need the best resources and educational tools young adults require. From recent elections we saw the placement scores of our children within the state placed on the ballots. We can do much better! Our town leaders and school board put forth a budget and the grades for the voters view, and the school budget was defeated and refused by the voters. I listen to voters, parents, and teachers. I will assist our school board in any way I can in Concord to raise our children’s achievements by listening to the suggested remedies that don’t include raising town property taxes. We can work together for the betterment of our children and those who teach them.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

2nd Amendment. Making sure our citizens live in a safe and free state and can stand their ground. I have defended the constitution during a lifetime of service in the military and always will.

Lowering burdensome over regulation on towns and supporting development would lower rents and would always be something I’ll champion along with state sponsored bills that can bring about relief without new creating new state taxes went smart sound policy.

Better roads in the town by seeking state support to pry as much grants out of D.C. as we can get to aid the town in fixing our streets.

There are things to do that can be done but it takes reaching across the aisle to get that 90% done we agree on. We can ague about the other 10% later.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Teachers, doctors, military personnel. I don’t follow anyone I walk alongside those who think team work is the best template. The team is only as strong as their weakest link. In government all elected officials should be a team. Disagreements should be debated and resolutions should always be the end goal when achievable. I’d say if I had to choose people I look up to I’d have to say MLK jr, Lincoln, and my mom. A saintly woman who never spoke an ill word against and personal. Her strength and character and faith built a foundation that sustained me through peace time and war. I’d say she was someone I aspire to be every day of my life.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Ethics and honesty. Working for the constituents better across the board

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Serve selflessly making a better community by representing the needs of people. That comes from listening to concerns and correcting problems that are solvable. State legislators work in a democracy so I can reach across the aisle and within my party to come to a general consensus to get things done. That is my goal not to warm a seat for a few years and hold a title I am a servant as they make a great leader by example.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Leaving this state better than I found it. Being remembered as a historian who gave his best to the preservation of NH Political history and helping to preserve our Motto “Love Free or Die” but expanding upon the not dying part. We need to preserve our cultures and traditions and remain a republic based form of government so the people rule and the representatives represent those who vote for them. I think if I truly look deep into history I don’t care about legacy more than I do about several generations from now enjoying the labor of our statehouse members in the performance of our duties we fulfill today.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was 13 and washing dishes at an Italian restaurant. I had the job a year until it was closed.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Getting injured in a mortar attack in Iraq. Broke my back teeth and bones in my neck. Didn’t know I was hurt so I finished my tour in Baghdad and returned home to multiple surgeries and retirement. Most of my cervical spine has been replaced and it’s hard to move some days but I retired in 2013. I haven’t sat idle as that has not been a thing I consider. One step in front of the other until I can’t. I just have a drive that doesn’t accept sitting still when I have so much life experience to help others.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

A good one. The legislature of a state and the corner office should always work together for the benefit of all citizens. The governor is by no means or should ever be a puppet. The governor is the states leader and for the most part should stick to their campaign promises or give good reasons when they don’t. Logic would dictate a governor should follow their party platform but in reality compromise is the way things get done so not all things along party lines happen. Unity of purpose between the house, senate , and governor doesn’t have to agree 100% all of the time. The governor has the power of the veto or approve bills and this is the way things are and it is the law of a republic.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Data centers infrastructure development before any are built. Keeping property taxes under control with deregulations that don’t hurt progress. Better education results for our children so they are prepared for the workforce and higher education. Cost of utilities lowered by use or new technological innovation and clean energy that is sustainable without affecting our states beautiful natural environment and views. Development of safe nuclear smaller plants to feed consumer needs and the coming needs required to power consumption while lowering costs.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

It has to be. There are 10% of issues that will probably never be agreed upon and 90% both sides do agree on. As a historian I hear all politician’s speeches. I’m for getting the 90% done with compromises but understanding there are things you have to stand for.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

Vietnam war on television as a 5 year old. The next was liaison officer running night patrols and working with military members, different civilian leaders, and organizations for the standing up New Orleans after Katrina stuck in 2005. Of all my service even in the war I cherish that service the most because it was serving our country’s citizens when they needed it drastically.